Entries for the second edition of the Ray Ekpu Award for Investigative Journalism opens today and ends on Tuesday 15th November. The prize money is N500,000, according to the award’s committee.
Unlike the maiden edition which was restricted to journalists in the conventional media houses – print and electronic – this year’s episode has been expanded to include entries from journalists serving in online publications who must be registered members of the Akwa Ibom State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ).
According to a statement jointly signed by the committee chairman, Mr Nsikak Essien, and secretary Mrs Emem Nkereuwem, this year’s entries are limited to publications made between 31st October 2021 and 30th September, this year.
Requirements for the entry include a copy of the original publication in hard copy for print; audio recording for radio with complete identity of the media organisation; video recording for television, with verifiable publication date, time and media organisation; and web link for online publications.
All entries must be made through the Akwa Ibom State NUJ council for onward delivery to the award committee secretariat of the Committee, the statement added.
Entries will be assessed based on:
- Depth of investigation.
- Conformity with the ideals of journalistic excellence.
- Style and language of presentation.
- Contribution to Good Governance in public office.
- Impact on the fight against corruption and impunity.
- Contribution to national unity and ethnic cohesion in Akwa Ibom state.
- Promotion of human and individual rights.
- Relevance to the fight against societal ills like rape and girl child abuse.
- Efforts to check poverty and abuse of environment.
- Attempts to check drug abuse, cultism and general insecurity.
The award sponsors, Inoyo Toro Foundation explained its essence:
- Truth matters, and journalists are responsible for factual reporting.
- Journalists must be encouraged and supported to discharge their duties responsibly
- There is a need to collaborate with the Nigerian Union of Journalists to deepen professionalism and encourage quality reporting among journalists.
The winner will be unveiled during the NUJ Award Night on Friday, 9th December at Emerald Event Centre, Uyo.
Seventy-two-year-old Ekpu is a celebrated journalist and writer. He had been editor at the Sunday Times, and briefly as Business Times editor. He then moved on to the Concord Newspapers and became the Editorial Board Chairman of the group.
He teams up with the rest of the “four musketeers” – Dele Giwa, Dan Agbese and Yakubu Mohammed – to birth Nigeria’s first weekly newsmagazine, Newswatch late 1984. The magazine hit the newsstands in February 1985 and revolutionarised investigative journalism.
